Photographs of Wales, UK

While the town as a whole has an interesting history, on my two visits I concentrated on the church, which I knew was founded by Lady Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry Tudor, who became King Henry VII. She is at the centre of fascinating events at the end of the War of the Roses, a dynastic dispute between, the House of Lancaster and the House of York, both descended from King Edward III. Lady Margaret Beaufort married four times. Her first husband was Owen Tudor by whom she had Henry Tudor. Her fourth husband was Lord Stanley, who was the eldest son of Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley. This marriage was remarkable in that Thomas was a supporter of Richard III, the Yorkist king, and one of his military leaders. Stanley was the leading nobleman in the North West and many of the landed gentry in Lancashire and Cheshire looked to his leadership. Lady Margaret Beafort's son, Henry Tudor was the main Lancastrian heir to the throne. His claim was through his mother, who was descended from John of Gaunt, created Duke of Lancaster, by his father, Edward III. Lord Stanley's son was taken as a hostage by Richard III to try to ensure his loyalty. In 1485, at the Battle of Bosworth, Lord Stanley and his allies from the north west, stood apart from the army of Richard and at the last minute, changed sides to support Henry Tudor, ensuring is victory. The new king, Henry VII, made his step-father, Earl of Derby. This may relate to Lancashire lands known as West Derby rather than the city in Derbyshire. Lord Stanley's seat was at Lathom near Ormskirk in Lancashire but he had extensive holdings in Cheshire and the Isle of Man, styling himself as "King of Mann". Later generations decided to use the title of "Lord of Mann" to avoid friction with the monarch. Lathom was much admired by Henry VII and it has been claimed that it influenced the design for his new Richmond Palace, begun in 1498.

The house at Lathom was beseiged by Parliamentarians in the Civil War. During the first seige, James Stanley, the 7th Earl of Derby was absent in the Isle of Man and his French wife, Charlotte de la Tremoüille, was left in charge of what turned out to be the last remaining Royalist stronghold in Lancashire. General Fairfax, the Parliamentary commander, left in January 1644 to lift the seige of Nantwich in Cheshire. This was a notable event in that campaigns were not often fought in winter. Nantwich was of strategic importance as it potentially blocked the route from Chester via Wem to Shrewsbury and thence to Worcester, thereby preventing King Charles I from bringing in Irish Troops. The seige of Lathom was lifted on the approach of royalists led by Prince Rupert of the Rhine. The second seige began in 1645 and the house was surrendered and damaged to prevent its use as a fortification. The 7th Earl of Derby was captured and executed in Bolton, held responsible for the "Massacre of Bolton".

St Mary's Church is an Anglican parish church and a Grade I listed building. It lies in the Diocese of St Asaph. It has historical associations with the Stanley family, Earls of Derby and displays heraldic symbols of this, including an Eagle and Child assumed by the family in the 15th century, and the Three Legs of Man, derived from a time when the Stanleys were Lords of Mann. The church stands on the site of a Norman church, which fell into disrepair in the 14th century. This was replaced by a larger one in the 15th century, which in turn deteriorated. It was demolished except for its tower. Construction of the present church began about 1490. The first patron of this was Lady Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby. She died in 1509, but the nave and aisles were not complete until about 1550. About this time the rectory of Mold passed to Bisham Priory in Berkshire, which was to be responsible for building a chancel, but this never occurred. The completed chancel arch was instead blocked up and a seven-light window inserted. In 1674 a clock was bought and the roof was re-leaded. In 1678 and 1733 new bells were added, in 1729 restoration work took place, and a gallery was added in 1751–1752. The west tower was replaced in 1768–1773 to a design by the architect Joseph Turner.

A major restoration carried out in 1853–1856 by Sir George Gilbert Scott involved adding a chancel with a three-sided apse. The west gallery was removed, the pews replaced by carved benches, and a pulpit, lectern and choir stalls installed. A new roof was built over the nave, the organ was moved to the east end of the north aisle and a north porch was added. In 1885, repairs to the stonework were made. Further restoration in 1911 was supervised by the architects Prothero, Phillott and Barnard of Cheltenham. This included rebuilding the south porch. The Lady Chapel was restored in 1921 by Sir Thomas G. Jackson. Still more restoration work was carried out in the 1950s and in 1998–2001.

The stained glass came from several designers and manufacturers, including William Wailes, Clayton and Bell, Lavers and Barraud, Alexander Booker and Burlison and Grylls. The windows are shown in a detailed plan of the church on the church website. The representations of the four patron saints of Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland: St. David, St. George (in armour), St. Andrew (with cross) and St. Patrick was made by the firm of Burlison & Grylls between 1889 and 1924 and is in memory of the famous painter, Richard Wilson, who is buried in the churchyard by the vestry door.

The apse was added by Sir Gilbert Scott in the mid-1850’s. The five three-light stained glass windows were made by William Wailes of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, c. 1856 in neo-Gothic style. My picture shows the three central panels

The five-light window at the east end of the south aisle shows Christ and the Four Evangelists – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (note the pens and books they hold). It was erected in 1863 and was again made by Wailes. Below are scenes showing Christ healing the paralysed man, the three Marys at the tomb, the raising of Lazarus, Peter raising Dorcas (Tabitha) and the Christ healing the blind man.

The church in January 2011

East Window and Altar

Ceiling of the Nave


Church Tower, 2011		Christ with the four Evangelists, south aisle

Patron Saints of Wales, England, Scotland & Ireland		Organ Pipes

Francis Howard Raikes, aged 20, at Ladysmith 1900		Memorial to Field Marshal Sir Alured Clarke

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